Experts Explain Why It’s Always Time to Talk About Mental Health

Counselling Directory Encourage Conversations Around Mental Health This Time to Talk Day

On Time to talk day (Thursday 6th February), Counselling Directory shares the thoughts of its professional members, on the importance of talking and eradicating the stigmas around mental health and illness.

Counselling Directory member Sophie Robinson-Matthews explains that mental health “is something that we all have, yet any struggle with it is largely invisible. A conversation is a way to broach the subject of any struggles so that the person can receive help or reassurance.”

Pam Custers, Counselling Directory member and relationship therapist adds, “Often our head is filled with an internal dialogue that is hard to stop or become clear. Talking allows us to get perspective on our worries and reduces our anxiety and stress.”

“A lot of research backs up the connection between talking and a reduction of stress and anxiety” explains Pam.

Yet Counselling Directory member Amy Drake adds that it’s not just up to the individuals to have this conversation but society too “It really is everyone’s responsibility to start the conversation and ask questions, take an interest. Not just mental health professionals and those who live through it. Workplaces, media outlets, education settings and communities could all do more to contribute to the conversation.”

Advice for talking about mental health:

If you’re struggling with your mental health and finding it difficult to open up to others, Counselling Directory member Sophie Robinson-Matthews advises that you:

Take a moment to have a think about what you would say to a loved one, who you believed was struggling in your position
Consider the safe places you could go, to speak to someone who is a professional in the mental health field, such as charities, helplines and your GP
Ring an anonymous helpline - If you are afraid or feel a bit lost as to what the next steps may be, someone can guide you or just listen to you, if that's what you want.

“Instead of keeping our thoughts and feelings to ourselves it honestly is a case of ‘two heads are better than one’ when it comes to talking about that which is important to us,” concludes counsellor Pam Custers.

To find more information about where to get help and crisis support you can look on Happiful’s help directory.

The Counselling Directory can help you find a therapist in your area.

Counselling Directory members are available for further comments this Time to talk day.

If you want to be connected with a Counselling Directory professional please contact Alice Greedus on alice.greedus@counselling-directory.org.uk or 01276 580047.

Counselling Directory members are available for media comments on a range of subjects including mental health, relationships, addiction, eating disorders, depression, anxiety and stress.

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About Counselling Directory:

Counselling Directory has been helping connect people with the help they need since 2005. Listing more than 20,000 professional counsellors and psychotherapists nationwide, everyone has the opportunity to find mental health support. Counselling Directory also provides helpful information on therapy types and common mental health concerns, articles from qualified therapists, as well as public and professional events.

Counselling Directory is part of the Happiful family with sister companies; Happiful magazine, Life Coach Directory, Hypnotherapy Directory, Therapy Directory and Nutritionist Resource. We exist to support others, to continually challenge stigma around mental health and mental illness, and to promote wellbeing.

To read more about mental health and wellbeing, visit the app store and download the new Happiful app. You can read our magazine on the go as well as finding out more about therapy, wellbeing and other support available in your area.